Ilkley is a blooming marvellous place to live, according to independent experts. Following the spring round of Yorkshire in Bloom judging, Ilkley shares top spot with Wetherby in its class.

Although both towns were awarded 89 points by the judges, there is no form of 'flower difference' or 'away flowers' to separate them - football style. Nonsense aside, it is another tremendous achievement by the Ilkley in Bloom committee, Bradford Council gardeners and the town as a whole. Ilkley has consistently finished high up in the bloom league table and now stands on the threshold of major honours.

Should the summer round of judging prove equally successful, it will be a fantastic boost in preparation for the really big prize - Britain in Bloom. Far from being a competition of minor significance, only of interest to gardeners and bored retired housewives, this is an important commercial opportunity to be seized upon.

Ilkley must take every opportunity to make itself as attractive as possible to tourists and the business community. Nobody is going to come and visit a scruffy, colourless town but a town blooming with flowers, neatly kept lawns and a clear pride in itself is far more appealing.

Image is everything in the late 20th century. The content is not seen to be important without the glossy shiny packaging. Not everyone has the passion of the Ilkley in Bloom committee but everybody can do their bit to make or break the town's bid for the Britain in Bloom title.

One scruffy lawn and a few piles of rubbish could prove the difference between success and a 'nearly but not quite' story. Please do your bit to push Ilkley ever closer to the Yorkshire in Bloom title and then the national event in August - it is in all our interests.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.